My Favorite Chicago African Restaurant

My favorite African (or more precisely, Nigerian) restaurant in Chicago is Bolat, which is on Clark St. between Belmont & Addison on the west side of the street right before it goes under the El (it used to bea sushi bar). Having been to Nigeria I can testify that this is the "real thing" (Ofie is good, but I think they tone things down for the American palate, which is fine, but should be kept in mind).

Anyway, Bolat's Egusi Soup (the national dish of Nigeria) is a little different from some of the versions you'll see, with a higher proportion of tomato & palm oil - it's "Lagos style." Be sure to ask for itwith extra goat meat, oxtails or stockfish - whatever your preference, they'll accomodate you! You can have it accompanied by pounded yam, or my favorite, eba. (Eba is fermented cassava grains, also called "gari"). Also highly recomended is the Asaro. This is real Nigerian "comfort food": mashed yam with tomato, palm oil, and if you're lucky, shrimp.

Bolat used to be on Sheridan just north of Lawrence but they've moved to the Clark St. location in the last six months or so. Much better as far as drawing in a more diverse clientele, also they'll be able to get a liquor licence (they were near a school at the old location).

Sorry I can't give you an exact address. Their phone # is 773-665-1100.

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